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SANTA CLARA -- All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman will not return to practice this week, making it increasingly more likely he will not be available to play this season.
Bowman, who is attempting a comeback from a severe knee injury sustained in the NFC Championship in January, begin his three-week practice window two weeks ago. The 49ers have until Dec. 9 to decide whether to keep him on season-ending physically-unable-to-perform or activate him to the 53-man roster without ever seeing him in football drills.
“I think we’re looking at another week of rehab,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday.
Harbaugh intimated that Bowman has not experienced a setback during his rehabilitation. It's possible the 49ers could place him on the 53-man roster and deactivate him for games until he is ready, but that is looking like a long shot with just four games remaining in the regular season.
Nose tackle Glenn Dorsey, who is on the 53-man roster, will not practice this week, either. Dorsey has not played in a game this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon in August.
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who sustained knee and ribs injuries on the second play of the 49ers’ game Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, is “working through some things,” Harbaugh said. Crabtree returned to play in the game a Thursday, but his status this week has not been determined.
